In the following lessons, you will learn key terms, concepts, individuals and events concerning the origins and founding of the United States Constitution (September 5, 1774 – May 29, 1790), it’s roots, democratic ideals, articles, amendments and final ratification.
You will play game quizzes reviewing key concepts and related information.
You will complete a 3 minute timed quiz after each lesson.
Finally, you will complete a 30 minute timed quiz assessing your acquired learning for this course.
Lesson 1: The Constitutional Road 1.1: initial tax protest meeting (1765), Benjamin Franklin, the ‘Coercive Acts’ (‘Intolerable Acts’ 1774), The First Continental Congress (1774), Peyton Randolph president, Petitions and grievances ignored, The Second Continental Congress (1775), Continental Army created (1775), the Olive Branch Petition (1775), British Proclamation of Rebellion (1775), Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense (1776), and the Prohibitory Act (1776).
Lesson 2: The Constitutional Road 1.2: The Halifax Resolves (1776), Preamble to constitution drafted by John Adams and adopted (May, 1776), a three-part resolution to Congress presented by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on (June, 1776), a declaration of Independence drafted by the “Committee of Five (June 1776), declaration preamble drafted by Thomas Jefferson (June 1776), and the declaration document presented to Congress (June 28 1776).
Lesson 3: The Constitutional Road 1.3: the Committee of the Whole, The Declaration of Independence ratified (July 4th, 1776), the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, the Albany Plan of Union proposed by Benjamin Franklin, The Model Treaty (September 1776), the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France (1778), the Treaty of Alliance with France (1778), initial constitution drafted by the Committee of 13 in effect (1776-1781), and the Congress of the Confederation (1781).
Lesson 4: The Constitutional Road 1.4: the Articles of Confederation (1781) – initial constitutional framework, , Federalists and Anti-Federalists, weaknesses of the Confederation in matters of powers, taxation and foreign policy.
Lesson 5: The Constitutional Road 1.5: Land Ordinance of 1785, the Homestead Act, economic issues – “not worth a continental”, ineffective foreign policy, little protect ion for manufacturing and shipping, a weak central government, Annapolis Convention in 1786, a constitutional convention convened in Philadelphia, federalists and Anti-federalists, George Washington president of Constitutional Convention (May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia), and the Madison’s plan.
Lesson 6: The Constitutional Road 1.6: Independence Hall, delegates inspired by proponents of ‘The Age of Enlightenment’, John Locke, Edward Coke, Charles-Louis Montesquieu and Thomas Paine, Two Treatises on Government – the social contract: individual rights. The Spirit of the Laws – separation of powers into three branches: a legislature, an executive, and a judiciary , Institutes and Reports – Common Law: legal precedents , Common Sense – a republican form of government, The Rules Committee, the Committee of the Whole, The Committee of Detail , The Connecticut Compromise, The Senate) and The House of Representatives, Proportional representation. The Committee on Postponed Parts and The Committee of Style and Arrangement.
Lesson 7: The Constitutional Road 1.7: Oliver Ellsworth – the name ‘United States’ , Edmund Randolph – a national court system, James Wilson – choosing the President of the United States by an electoral college, James Wilson – the “Three-Fifths Compromise” a formula for determining a state’s total population for legislative representation and taxing purposes, John Jay – The Federalist Papers , Rufus King – the first United States Ambassador to Britain, Gouverneur Morris – the preamble of the United States Constitution, Jacob Shallus penned the United States Constitution, George Washington – first to sign the new Constitution of the United States and later first President of the United States, and government divided into three separate branches of power: executive, legislative, and judicial each with authority on its own to offset potential misuse of power.
Lesson 8: Constitutional Articles 2.1: Preamble – “We the people…”, Article One…the legislative branches of the Senate and House of Representatives; Article Two … the executive branch of the government –the President, the Vice President, and other executive officers and staffers appointed by the President, including the Cabinet; Article Three …the Supreme Court – judicial powers and powers of Appeal.
Lesson 9: Constitutional Articles 2.2: Article Four …residents protected in all states, new states could be admitted into Union; Article 5… process of altering or amending the Constitution, three-fourths of the states required to approve an amendment; Article 6… laws and treaties of the United States established as the supreme law, Congress responsible for debts incurred by the United States; Article 7… the new government in effect upon the ratification of at least nine states;
Lesson 10: The Bill of Rights 3.0: The First Amendment (1791)… safeguards for freedom of religion, speech, of the press, of assembly, and the right to petition; The Second Amendment (1791)… safeguard for the right of citizens to keep and bear arms; The Third Amendment (1791)… citizens not obliged to billet soldiers; The Fourth Amendment (1791)… no searchesof self and propertywithout a good reason (probable cause), illegal evidence not admitted in trials; The Fifth Amendment (1791)… grand jury indictment needed for major crimes, double jeopardy, due process of law, protection from self-incrimination; The Sixth Amendment (1791)… The rights of the accused for: a speedy public trial by jury, legal counsel, their statement of rights upon arrest, calling witnesses on his or her behalf; The Seventh Amendment (1791)… the right to a jury trial for civil cases; The Eighth Amendment (1791)… protection for the accused from unreasonable amount of fines for bail and from cruel and unusual punishment; The Ninth Amendment (1791)… safeguards for unspecified “unenumerated” rights in the United States Constitution. Tenth Amendment (1791)… federal government powers explicitly defined by the Constitution but unspecified powers belong to the states or the people.
Lesson 11: Making a Federal Law 4.1: law as member of Congress bill, sponsor, co-sponsor, the House Standing Committees. the Committee of ways and means, the Senate Appropriations Committee, a “mark-up”, a subcommittee, a “reported” bill, and “floor action” (debate).
Lesson 12: Making a Federal Law 4.2: vote by Representatives, passed bill certified by the Clerk of the House, bill discussion in Senate committee, vote on Senate floor, a conference committee, passed bill submitted to the President for ratification, President’s option to accept (ratification) or refuse (veto), vetoed bill still possibly accepted by Congress (veto override), and bill possibly ignored by the President (“Pocket Veto”).
Lesson 13: The powers of the United States Government 5.0: Congress ( House of Representatives and the Senate): writing laws, granting money, ratifying treaties, declaring war (since 1973); President (aided by his executives and independent agencies): proposing and enforcing laws, administering laws, commanding the armed forces, appointing ambassadors and other officials, conducting foreign policy, negotiating treaties; Judiciary (the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals and District Courts), enforcing Federal laws): applying laws and reviewing lower court decisions, confirming Presidential appointments, interpreting the constitution and other laws.
Lesson 14: Checks and balances in the United States Federal Government 6.0: vetoing Senate bills and house of Representatives bills, making exceptions to the judiciary’s appellate jurisdiction, approving or vetoing congressional legislation, appointing federal judges, approving presidential nominations, approving the budget, pardoning federal offenders, declaring laws unconstitutional, declaring presidential acts to be unconstitutional, passing laws over the President’s veto by a two-thirds vote, proposing constitutional amendments to overturn judicial decisions, adjourning or convening Congress in certain instances, impeaching the President, impeaching judges, confirming presidential nominations, rejecting presidential federal judiciary appointments, refusing to confirm Presidential appointments and refusing to ratify treaties.
Lesson 15: Ratification and The First Party System 7.0: Anti-federalists – protection of the rights of the States as well as the freedoms of individuals, noted anti-federalists Patrick Henry, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson and others, Ratification of U.S. Constitution (1790), George Washington first President of the United States (1789}, John Adams first Vice President of the United States, the presidential line of succession…Vice-President (1st), Speaker of the House of Representatives (2nd), President pro tempore of the Senate (3rd), Secretary of State (4th), Secretary of the Treasury (5th), the “First Party System” – Federalist Party largely founded by Alexander Hamilton and The Democratic-Republican Party co-founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
